Shock-former for harvesting-machines.



L. ANDERSON.

SHOCK FORMER FOB HARVESTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29. I912.

1,269,516. Patented June 11, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Q I I LOLLLS Awe/"son (M! ww w L. ANDERSON SHOCK FORMER FOR HARVESTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, I912.

Patented June 11, 1918.

IrwenTor Z0MZIS Andaman Alla WU n35 ses QIMM 5M! ELM L. ANDERSON.

SHOCK FORMER FOR HARVESTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1912.

1,269,516. Patnted June 11, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- fix O'lllln N (0 -17a (10/142 124 j v Witnesses 110 x y I v f' .Zouzs Amiens'olz 1 1r 1 L. ANDERSON.

SHOCK FORMER FOR HARVESTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILEDAPR. 29, 1912.

1,26 9,5 1 6; Patented June 11, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ImfenT? I Z0105 Anderson. I

' L. ANDERSON. SHOCK FORMER FOR HARVESTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1912 .1 ,26 9,5 16 V Patented une 11, 1918.

s SHEETS-SHEET 5.-

' fad/J 2- L. ANDERSON.

SHOCK EORMEH FOR HARVESTING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1912.

" Patented'J une '11,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Invent? 7 I law; Alzavzsa Louis nimnnsomor CHICAGO, ILnINoIs.

SHOCK- FORMER FOR HARVESTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1111311, 1918.

Application filed April 29, 1912. Serial No. 693,984.

r T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS ANDERSON, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Shock-Formers for Harvesting-Machines, of which the following isv a specification and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. I

The invention relates to harvesting machines, and particularly to those having pro vision for collecting the bundles of grain as they are formed by the machine and. depositing them upon the ground from time to time in the form of shocks.

The invention contemplates a tilting cradle designed to receive the bundles of.

grain, and improved means, for operating the cradle to discharge the bundles upon the ground in an upright shock.

The object of the invention is to provide a. shock former for harvesting machines which shall be of simple construction and efficient in its operation. In the accompany ing drawings Figure 1 is a detail plan view of a harvesting machine equipped with apparatus provided by the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail rear elevation showing the shock-forming cradle, and some of the parts being in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View; taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is a detail side View of theharvesting machine, some of the parts being shown in section; v

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line .55 ofFig.1; H I

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on the lines 6-6 and 77, respectively, of

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8+8 of Fig. 7; I

Fig. 9 is a. rear elevation of the machine, parts of the "frame being shown in section and the plane of the section being indicated by the line 9-9 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view showing a latch mechanism employed upon the machine; and

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view-showing a. modified form of construction.

Parts of a harvesting machine are shown in the drawings. This machine has a main frame 10 comprising the side sills 11,712,

and the end sills 13, 14:. The machine is principally supported by the usual bull wheel shown at 15. The operative parts of the machine are driven by the movement of ably through a sprocket chain which turns over the bull wheel shaft and over a sprocket wheel 16 shown in Fig. 5.

The harvesting machine will usually be equipped with both reaping and binding mechanism. These mechanisms may be of any-well known construction. The reap-. ing mechanism is not shown in thed'rawings, and only parts of the binding mechanism are illustrated. The bindinginechanism serves to tie the grain into bundles upon the inclined tableshown at 17. This table is supported over the frame 10,,as upon uprights which rise from the side sills,

the bull wheel 15 over-the ground, preferas 12, and one of which is'shown at 18. A

swinging fork19 serves for transferring the bundles of grain from the table 17 to the.

shock-forming mechanism and for turning them end. for end in transit between these parts. This bundle transfer mechanism is reserved for a separate application.

The shock forming mechanism includes a cradle, generally designated by the numeral 20. This cradle is preferably located at one side of the frame 10, and for that pur-.

pose is mounted upon a horizontal laterallydirected arm 21. Preferably thelouter end of the arm 21 is supported in a supplemental "carrying wheel 22. The inner end of the arm 21-is most desirably so supported as to permit the arm to be moved. in the direction of travel of'the machine, independently of the frame 10. As shown in Fig. 4, the inner end of the arm 21 is attached to the lower end of a substantially'vertical link 23. This link is swinginglymounted upon the frame 10, as by being pivotally connected at its higher end'to the'upright 18 (Fig. To permit the arm 21 to be, rotated for thepurposeof tilting the cradle 20, a ball and they are rigidly connected at their intersections, as by the unions 30, 31 and 32. Preferably the transverse ribs 28 are curved in differing amounts, whereby to give the cradle a tapering or conical form, its larger end being directed toward the rear, as appears in Figs. 1 and 2. In practice, the framework, consisting of the ribs 28 and 29, will preferably be covered with a suitable flooring (not shown), in order that the rigid part 25 of the cradle may present a smooth surface to the bundles of grain held therein. The rigid part 25 of the cradle 20 is secured to the arm 21 by brackets, as 33, 34 and 35. Each of these brackets has a tubular base, as 36, which surrounds the arm 21 and is rigidly fixed thereon. The wings 26 and 27 of the cradle are rotatably mounted at the opposite edges of the rigid portion 25, and are thus adapted to swing inwardly over the contents of the cradle to compress it. As shown, each of the Wings, 26, 27, comprises a plurality of curved ribs 37. These ribs are fixed at one end in a shaft 38. Each of these shafts is rotatably mounted at the corresponding edge of the .rigid portion 25 of the cradle, as by being extended through bearings 39, 40 and 41., one of which is mounted upon the adjacent end of each of the ribs 28. Crank arms 42, one of which is mounted on each of the shafts 38 are provided for rotating the shafts to swing the wings. These crank arms are preferably connected by links, as 43, 44, to the opposite ends of a lever 45. The lever 45 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a rigid part of the cradle, as upon the pivot lug 46 which is carried by the bracket 35. By swinging the lever 45 upon its pivot 46, the wings 26 and 27 are simultaneously moved in opposite directions. A spring 47 reactsbetween the link 43 and the bracket 34 to normally hold the wings 26 and 27 in the upright po sition illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2. By swinging the lever 45 against the efi'ort of the spring 47 the wings 26v and 27 are swung. inwardly over the rigid portion 25 of the cradle, to the. positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Preferably the arm 21 is jointedin order that the cradle 20 maybe detached from the frame 10 of the harvesting, machine, as

when the machine is to be drawn through a gate or upon a road. Asshown, the arm 21 is formed in sections, as 48 and 49. The outer end of the section 48" is provided with a tapering socket 5 0, and the inner. end of the section 49 is equipped, with a pin 51 having a form complementary to that of the socket 50. The walls of the socket 50 and.

the pin 51 are transversely apertured, as at 52, 53, to receive a connecting pin or key 54 Preferably the key 54 is of wedge shape, and

the apertures 52, 53, are so arranged thatas the key 54 is driven to its seat it draws the sections48, 49, together by a cam action.

For discharging its load upon the ground the cradle 20-is tilted to an upright position in rear of the arm 21, as by rotating the arm 21. For this purpose the arm 21 turns in the ball and socket joint 24 at one end, and in the hub of the carrying wheel 22 at the other end. A crank arm 55 is mounted on the arm 21 for rotating the arm 21. Preferably this crank arm is located adjacent the inner end of the arm 21, and a spring 56 bears against the crank arm to assist in rotating the arm 21 in a direction to. raise the cradle 20. As shown, the intermediate portion of the spring 56 is coiled about the arm 21, and the inner end of the spring bears against a fixed stop, as the lug 57. The stop lug 57 is conveniently formed upon the casing of the ball and socket joint 24.

The tiltingof the cradle 20, for discharging its load upon the ground, preferably occurs only when a, predetermined num ber of bundles of grain have been deposited in the cradle, as by the swinging of the fork 19. The fork 19 is in turn operated to transfer a bundle of grain fromthe table 17 to the cradle 20 only when the tying of a bundle of grain has'been completed by the binder mechanism. As shown, the fork 19 is mounted to swing about the axis of a tubular post 58. This post rises from' a rear corner of the table 17. The fork 19 has a stem 59 which extends downwardly through the tubular post 58, and projects below the same for the attachment thereto of a crank arm 60. V

A countershaft'61 may be employed-for transmitting power to all of the operative parts of the machine. As shown this c'ountershaft extends transversely across the frame of the machine between the side sills 11 and 12, and is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 62 and 63 mounted upon the. said sills, respectively. The sprocket wheel 16 is preferably directly mounted upon the countershaft 61, and is fixed thereto for continuously driving the same.

Themechanism for swinging the fork 19 comprises asleeve 64, normally loose on the countershaft 61, and carrying a cam 65. As shown, the cam 65 serves to vertically reciprocate a plunger 66. The lower end of this plunger isv bifurcated, as indicated at 67, to straddle the sleeve 64, whereby the plunger is guided by the sleeve. A cam roller 68, mounted on the plunger, cotiperates with the cam 65. The higher end of the plunger 66 is connected to one of the arms of a. hell crank lever 69 (Fig. 1). This bell crank lever is pivotally mounted upon a fixed part of the frame of the 1nachine, as at 70 (Fig. 1). A link 71 connects the other arm of'the bell crank lever wheel 74:. This cam finger is pivotally supported intermediate its ends, as at 77 (Fig. 5). A rock shaft of the binder, mechanism is shown at 7 8-(Fig. 4), This rock shaft has a crank arm 79 which is connected to one.

end of the cam'finger 76, as byv a link 80. Whenever'the rock'shaft 78 is operated, as up'onthe completion of the tying of a bundle of grain, the cam finger 76 is withdrawn from beneath the pawl arm 75, and the sleeve 64: is thereby caused to turn with the countershaft 61 through one revolution. During this turningv ofvthe sleeve 64 thecam 65reciprocates the plunger 66 and operates the;,fork 19 :to transfer a bundle of, grain from the table 17 to the cradle 20. At the endof each revolution of the sleeve 64:. the pawlarm 75 rides upon the point of the'cam finger 76 :(Fig. 9) and is raised thereby out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 7e, thus bringing the sleeve 64 to rest until the cam: finger is againwithdrawn by the, operation of the rock'shaft 78 (Fig.'4e). j The parts .of-the shock forming mechanism areoperated through a second countershaftrshownat 81- (Fig. 5). This countershaft is. journal'ed-upon fixed parts. of'the framelO, as uponthe standards 82 and 83. Preferably-theecountershaft 81 is rotated only when a predetermined :number of brmdles of. grain, sufficient to form a shock,-

have accumulated in5thecradle 20, as by a corresponding number of successive opera tions of the fork19.:. As shown, the :counter shaft ,81 is driven from the countershaft 61.

To this end a' sprocket wheel-8e is fixed upon the countershaft 1,81, and a sprocket wheel 85 is loosely monnted'upon the countershaft :61. These sprocket; wheels areconnected-in the usualway by a sprocket chain 86' (FlgS. Land i I. I

. f Glutch mechanism isprovided for causing the sprocket wheel--85 -to-:turn with the. countershaft 61 whenever it is desiredthat the countershaft 81should be rotated for operating ther hO kTfOrming mechanism, This clutohm echanism conveniently comprises a ratchet wheel 87, fixed upon the counter shaft 6. and .a vpawl arm 88Pcarried by the sprocket iwheel 85, Normally the pawl arm 88 isheld out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 87 by a laterally movable cam fingerfl89 This cam finger is pivotally' connected to a fixed partjof-the frame. of the m Chi rQyYaS-at;9 Q;:(Fig- 16);, t s n rma ly held in proper position tofsupport the' pawlf arm 88 by a spring 9l. As shown, one end of the spring 91' is attached to the standard, 82. A ratchet wheel 9:2, havingja laterally directed cam lug 93, is provided for withdrawing the cam finger 89 from, beneath the pawl arm 88 after a given number of operations of the fork 19, As shown, this ratchet 'wheel is journaled upon a part of the standard 82 in rear of the c'ountershaft 81. It is rotated by an eccentricda mounted-on the sleeve 64. Preferably the arrangement is such that the ratchetwheel 92 is advanced through a distance corresponding to the spacing of its ratchet teethat each rev0lution of the sleeve 64:. 1 For this purpose the eccentric 9a actuates 1 a pawl .arm 95. The pawl arm 95 cooperates withthe teeth of the ratchet wheel 92. The rear end of the pawl arm is formed into. an eccentric strap 96 which surrounds the eccentric 9 L Aspring 97 bears upon the pawl arm 95 tohold it in engagement with the periphery of the ratchet wheel 92..

A rock shaft 98 is actuated by the (5a lug 93 at each revolution of the ratchet wheel- 92, to withdraw the cam finger 89 fromrbe neath the pawl, arm 88. As shown, this rock shaft is journaled in bearing lugs 9 9 and' 100 formed upon the side. ,of the standard 82. The rock shaft 98 has two crank arms, designated 101 and 102, respectively. One of these crank arms, as 101, extends into the path of the cam lug 93- and; cooperates therewith. The other crank arm, as102, bears against the camzfinger 89. By providing the ratchet wheel 92.with a number of teeth equal to, the number of bundles of grain 7 required to form a shock, the cam finger 89 will be withdrawn from beneath the pawl arm 88 and the, cradle 2O operated-todis-1 charge its: load upon-theground whenever number of times, to deposit this-numberof bundles in the cradle. It will be understood that with theparts arranged as shown the shock-forming cradle is tilted and restored duringone revolutionrofi-the countershaft 61. At the completionofthis revolution the pawlarm 8 8 rides upon the point of the cam finger189 (Fig. 76);,- and is thereby raised out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 82, thusbringingtthe countershaft 8.1 to rest.

the. fork l9; has been operatedfa suificient opposite directions during a'single'continu- I ousrevolution-of the countershaft 81 in one direction, The, crank shaft 195 prefers ably located in rear of the countershaftBl. Asshown it is 'journaledupona part of the standard 83, and also in abearing bracket 10. Which is mounteduponthe side si-ll 12. a

t ca ri s. 'renkiarm 1 7 at ts fi r? 1- charge its load upon the ground.

which in turn meshes with a gear 111 on the crank shaft. The mutilated gear 10-1 thus serves to turn the crank shaft 105 in the proper direction to tilt the cradle todischarge its load upon the ground. For this purpose it is so mounted upon the countershaft 81 as to operate in advance of'the'gear 103 at each revolution of the countershaft. The intermediate gear 110' is' preferably mounted upon a bearing bracket 11 2* (Fig. 5). This bracket is mounted upon afixed part of the frame of the machine, as the side sill 12. v

In order that the cradle 20 shall be permitted to swing downwardly as rapidly as theweight of its load mayrequire, provision is made for permitting the crank shaft 105 to turn in advance of the gear 111. To this end the gear 111. is loosely mounted on the crank shaft 105-,- and its hub is provided with a recess 113 for receiving a pin 114 mountedinthe crankshaft. A spring 11 5 (Fig. 8') coiled about thecrank shaft 105 adjacent the gear 111, and having one endfixed in the crank shaft and the-other end bearing upon a spoke ofthe gear 111, serves to normally holdthe gear in such a position upon the-crank shaft that the pin 111 is engaged with one end of the recess 113. The turning of the'gear 111 thereby rotates the crank shaft 105, while still permitting the crank shaft to turn in advance of the ear.

Preferably provision is made for swinging the arms 26, 27 to compress the contents of the cradle 20 during its tilting. 'To' this end the means provided for actuating the arms 26, 27, is most conveniently mounted upon the countershaft 81. As shown, this means takes the form of a cam 116 (Fig. 6) This cam serves for'turning a rock shaft 117. The'rock shaft 117 is preferably journaled in a fixed part of the frame of the machine, as the bearing bracket 118 6), and has a pair of crank arms 119 and 120 fixed upon it. One of these crank arms, as 119, carries a cam roller 121 which runs upon the cam 116. The other crank arm, as 120, is connected to one arm of abell crank lever 122, as by a link-123 (Fig. 4). Preferably the bell crank lever 122 is arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, as by being pivotally mounted upon a bearing bracket 123 which is fixed to: the side sill 12. The

other arm of the bell cranklever. 122v is con the weight of its load when the countershaft 81 is at rest. As shown, a latch arm 126 is mounted on the crank shaft'105 ad acent the crank arm 107. This latch arm is normally supported upon the higher end of a spring latch-member 127, and thereby prevents the turning of the crank shaft 105' in the direction to tilt the cradle. Preferably the spring latchmember 127 is" pivotally mounted upon the side of the bracket 106, as appears at 128 (Figs. 4 and 10). A spring 129 reactsbetween the lower end of the latch member 127 and a fixed stop 130 mounted upon the under side of the sill 12 to normally hold the latch in the path of the arm 1126;

Mechanism operated upon the turning of the countershaft 81 is provided for withdrawing the latch member 127- from beneath the arm 126. As shown, this-mechanism includes a cam 131 and a rock shaft 132. The cam 131 is mounted upon the countershaft 81 and turns with it. The rock. shaft 132 is journaled in a bearing bracket 133 which rises from the side sill 12. One'ofthe' arms of this rock shaft carries a roller 133 which cooperates with. the cam 131. The other arm of the rock shaft 132 isconnected to the latchmember 127 by alink1'3 1. Preferably the cam 131 is so positioned-upon the countershaft 81 that it swing the rock shaft 132 to withdraw the latch member 127 as soon a-sthe countershaft 81 begins-to turn and before any ofthe gear teeth of the mutilated gear 10% comes into engagement with the gear teeth of the pinion 110.

i In order that the shock may have an o portunity: 'to. settle into position upon t e ground before it is released by the cradle 20, provision is preferably made for moving the cradle 20 longitudinally with respect to the frame 10 of the harvesting machine when the cradle has been brought to its upright discharging position. This longitudinal movement of thecra-dle is such that when the cradle hasbeen tilted to its discharging position it is momentarily at rest with respect to the ground over which the harvesting machine travels. The 1ongitudinal movement of the cradle is preferablyobtained by moving both ends of the arm 21. The outer end ofthe arm is movedby means of a link 135 (Fig. 1'). This link is attached to a collar 136 which loosely surrounds the arm 21 adjacent the hub of the supplementalcarrying wheel 22. Longitudinal movement of the link135 effects a correspondingmovetakes the form of. a disk having cam lugs 138 and 139 which project upon its opposite faces. These cam lugs cooperate with the two arms 140 and 141, respectively, of a bifurcated lever 142. 'The lever 142 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a fixed part of the frame of the machine, as upon a forwardly projecting .part 143 of the bracket 133. "The lo-wer'e'nd of this lever is connected to the link 23, as by a rod .144 (Fig. 4). One of the arms, as141, ofthe bifurcated end of the lever 142, is connected to a rod 145 which extends longitudinally through the machine toits forward end, as

appears in Fig. 1. A bell crank lever-146,,

pivoted to swing in a horizontal plane, has one of its arms connected with the rod 145 and the other arm connected with the link 135. This bell crank lever may be pivotally mounted upon any fixed part of the frame of the machine, as upon a bracket 147, mounted upon the side sill 12 adjacent its forward end. I

The cam lugs 138 and 139 of the cam disk 137 act upon the two arms of the lever 142 in alternation to swing the lever in opposite directions. The cam lug 138 cooperates upon the arm 140 to swing the lever 142 in the proper direction to draw the arm 21 backwardly, as by pulling upon the link 23 and pushing upon the link 135. This backward movement of the arm 21 causes the cradle 20 to remain at rest with respect to the ground over which the harvesting machine is traveling at the moment of discharging its load upon the ground. When the cradle has discharged its load upon the ground the arm 21 is returned to its forward position, as by the operation of the cam lug 139 upon the arm 141 of the lever 142.

If desired the link 23 may be displaced by a bearing block which provides a movable support for the inner end of the arm 21 by having a longitudinal sliding movement in the frame of the machine. This form of construction is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, wherein the inner end of the arm 21 is attached to a bearing block 148. The bearing block 148 is slidingly supported beneath the sill 12, as by being gibbed over a yoke 149 which is secured to the under side of the sill 12 and depends therefrom. In

this form ofconstruction the inner end of the arm 21 is longitudinally moved by connecting the rod 144 to the bearing block 148.

I claim as my invention 1..In a shock former, in combination, a tilting cradle movable between a horizontal position and an upright position about an axis which is below the cradle in its hori zontal position whereby the latter part of the tilting movement may be effected by gravity, a latch normally holding the cradle against tilting, mechanism for tilting the cradle including a pair of elastically connected members, a stop limiting the relative movement of the said elastically connected members, one of the said elastically connected members being connected with the cradle, and means for releasing the latch and driving the other one of said elastically connected members operable in succession in the order named. p v .2. In a shock former in combination, a traveling frame, a-cradle transversely pivoted in the frame and. having its rear end open and normally oecupyinga substantially horizontal position, operating means for tilting the cradle backwardly about its pivot to discharge its load, through its top by the forward travel of the frame when the contents of the cradle is engaged with the ground, means for laterally compressing the contents of the cradle during the said tilting, a spring acting to release the said 0 mpressing means when the cradle occupie an upright position, and means for moving the cradle backwardly with respect to the frame when the cradle occupies an upright position.

3. In a shock former in combination, a traveling frame, a cradle transversely pivoted in the frame and normally occupying a substantially horizontal position with its axisparallel to the direction of travel of the frame and constructed to discharge its load when tilted to an upright position, a shaft, operative connection between the shaft and the cradle whereby the cradle is tilted and restored by the turning of the shaft in opposite directions, a countershaft rotatable in one direction only, a pair of gears on the first named shaft, a pinion meshing with one of the gears, a mutilated gear on the countershaft directly engageable with the other gear on the first named shaft during a part of each revolution of the countershaft, and a second mutilated gear on the countershaft engageable with the said pinion during a different part of each revolution of the countershaft and means for reciprocating the cradle when the cradle occupies said upright position said reciprocating means acting to move the cradle backwardlly with respect to the frame and restore it to its normal position with respect to the frame.

4. In a shock former, in combination, a

traveling frame, a trough-shaped cradle transversely pivoted in the-frame and having'its' rear end open and normally occu'p v ing a substantially horizontal position; op erating means for tilting the cradle back- Wardly aboutits pivot to an upright position for the discharge of its load through its top by the forward travel of the frame When the contents of the cradle is engaged Withthe ground, means forlaterally' compressing the contents ofthecradle during'the said tilting, a springa'ctin'g to release th'e said con1- pressing means When the cradle occupies the said upright position, and means for re'oip rocatingthe cradle Whenthe cradle occupies said uprightposition; said reciprocating means acting to move the cradle backwardly with respectto the frame and restore it to its-normal position with respect tothe-fiaine.

5. In a shoek'forn1er,in' combination, a traveling frame, a link hanging from" a transverse pivot at one side of the frame, an" arm projecting laterally outward from the said side of the" frame, theiniier end" of position and an u'prig t position about; an

aXis whichfis-bclcw the cradle in'its horizon talposition whereby the latter part of the tilting movement may he effected b gravity, mechanismfor tilting the cradle" including a pairof elastically connected membersgwne thereof being" connected with the cradle and the other being driven, a stop liin i ting the relative movement of the" said" elastically conne'ct'ed members.

LOUIS ANDERSON-L Witnesses:

Graem B.G1r.nson,

E; M; Kmrcnnn;

Copies ofthis'p'a'tent may beobtain'ed for fiv'e c'ems eachjb'y adre'sshrg tli'e Commissioner of Patents;- 

